Dog abandoned in yard after owner evicted
Bolton, EN (UK)Incident Date: Thursday, May 22, 2008
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Mark Griffiths
A man abandoned his dog in the yard of his house for more than a week without food, water or shelter, a court heard.
Mark Griffiths was evicted from his home in Lilley Street, Bolton, but left his German Shepherd, named Saber, there as a guard dog.
Bolton Magistrates' Court heard that Griffiths, aged 30, had told RSPCA staff he had returned regularly to feed and water the dog. But he was found guilty of neglect in his absence yesterday.
Tony Stock, prosecuting, said: "Mr Griffiths was evicted from his house on May 22 and had taken Saber to a friend's house.
"But following an attempted break-in, he returned the dog to the yard because he still had items of value in the house.
"He claimed he had been returning to the house, but, in his own words, he said the yard was 'a sea of mess'.
"He accepted that he had not provided shelter for the animal and it had last seen a vet two years ago."
The court heard Griffiths admitted the animal had slimmed down, but had declined to sign Saber over to the RSPCA. He said he had visited on regular occasions to give it food and water.
The dog was inspected by vet, Gareth Jones, on June 2.
In a statement read to the court, Mr Jones said: "The dog was in a state of severe emaciation, its coat was in a poor condition and it was malodorous.
"It weighed just 25kg, but should have weighed at least 35kg."
The court heard the dog had overgrown nails and was suffering from diarrhoea. When it was fed, it ate ravenously.
Mr Jones said the basic needs of the dog were not being met. He said the dog's owner had caused unnecessary suffering and had failed to provide adequate housing, food and veterinary care.
Griffiths, who was not in court, was found guilty of five separate charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. He will appear in court on November 7 to be sentenced. References
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